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l,N I e. oma l) E. BRETNEY E 1 Tl DICKSON- GAS GENERATOR. l No. 552,095. Patented Deo'. 31, 1895.

, ATTORNEY ANDRW BLRAHAM.PHUTOUTHQWASHINFUMDE. 'a'

, UNrrnn STATESPATENT Orrrcn.

EUGENE BRETNEY AND JOHN T. DIOKSON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

GAS-G EN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,095., dated December 31, 1895.

Application filed January 12, 1892. Serial No. 417,877. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it knownl that we, EUGENE BRETNEY and JOHN T. DIcKsoN, citizens of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas- Generators, of which the following is a speciication.

Our said invention relates to that portion of an ice-makin g,refrigeratin g or such like apparatus known as the generator or retort, wherein the ammonia or equivalent gas is expelled from the aqua-ammonia by the action of heat, and rectiied before passing to the condenser. It consists in a novel construc- Vtion of the steam-heating apparatus whereby greatly-increased eiiciency is attained and at the same time a less expensive apparatus than that commonly in use is provided, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l is a central vertical section through the gen erator, the heater being shown in elevation; Fig. 2, a similar view through the heater, the central portion being broken away to permit the ends -to be represented on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 3, a horizontal section as seen when looking in the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line the gas is aiforded an outlet and conducted to the condenser. A pipe A2, through which the aqua-ammonia is conducted to the generator, is also inserted through said top to discharge therein, and a pipe A3 with a regulating-valve a3 is provided near the bottom of the casing for the outlet of the weak liquor.

The pans B are of a common construction -and arrangement, consisting of alternatelyarranged large and small pans supported in a casing by appropriate supports, such as bolts a, from a cross-bar a', as shown, the aqua-ammonia being discharged upon the top of said casing, and runs into the top pan through perforations therein, being discharged into the next pan through a central perforation in the top pan, and into the next large pan by running over the edges of the small pan, and so on until it reaches the perforated bottom of the casing through which the liquor runs into the lower portion of the generator surrounding the steam-heater. A ring a2 is provided at the top of the casing, within which the pans are inclosed, of suiiicient width to close the space between said casing and the main casing of the generator, as shown, thus insuring that all the liquor shall pass through this retarding apparatus.

The steam-heater C to which our invention particularly relates consists of a central vertical pipe or cylinder provided with numerous radial hollow arms c, arranged in staggered vertical lines, the inner ends of which project through said cylinder a short distance, for a purpose which will be presently described. Each end of said pipe or cylinder is preferably formed screw-threaded, and has a collar C' screwed thereon. A cap O2 is firmly secured thereto by means of bolts c', a packingring c2 being interposed between said collar the products of condensation are discharged through the outlet-pipe C, which is also provided with a regulating-valve c4. eral joints are securely packed by nuts and packing rings, as shown, to render them steam and gas tight. The joints between the radial arms c and cylinder C are made by the parts being screwed and nicely fitted together.

The pipe C3 being secured to the top of the heater and casing A serves to steady said heater in position, as also does the pipe C4.

I-Ieretofore steam-coils have commonly been employed as the heating apparatus in genera- The sev- IOO tors of this class. In such apparatus the condensation forms in the pipe ahead of the steam and thus covers the pipe-surface and reduces the degree of heat transmitted to the surrounding chamber, inasmuch as in a large portion of the coils the heat of hot water alone is secured. A very high pressure and temperature of steam is thus required to accomplish the desired result, and a great per Cent. of heat is lost, and the apparatus fails to reach its possible capacity. Such a tem perature, as is well known, is also calculated to give to the products of condensation or distilled water, of which the ice is made, a disagreeable or bitter taste. It is therefore desirable to secure the greatest possible capacity for the apparatus at the lowest possible temperature of the steam, and this result we believe we have accomplished by the above-described apparatus. In said apparatus the steam comes into the heater through the pipe C3 under the desired pressure, filling said heater throughout all its parts, including the radial arms, the desired pressure therein being secured and maintained by a proper adjustment of the valves c3 and c4. By reason of receiving the steam at the top the products of condensation fall to the bottom of their own gravity, the condensation in the radial arms being conducted to within the central cylinder by the inwardlyextended ends of said arms to a point where it will fall directly to the bottom without touching the sides of said cylinder. By this construction live steam is maintained constantly against thesides of said cylinder and substantially the entire surface of the radial arms, and thus the heat of live steam is constantly transmitted to the outside chamber throughout substantially the entire surface of the heater, which, as will be readily understood enables a greater temperature to be secured in said chamber, and a greater capacity is thus given the machine, while at the same time a lower temperature of steam can be maintained, which secures a more desirable quality'of distilled water to be made into ice.

Other than as above described the operation of the generator is the same as that of generators in common use, the aqua-ammonia being introduced through the pipe A2 and distributed through the apparatus B into the chamber surrounding the heater, when the staggered arrangement of the arms c causes it to be still further broken up and disturbed in its course, thus bringing a greater per cent. of it into direct contact with the heating-surface. The heat causes the ammonia-gas to be ejected from the aqua-ammrnia. Said gas arises and passes upwardly through the downwardlyiowing aqua-ammonia, being rectified, and passes out through the pipe A to the condenser. (Not shown.) rlhe weak liquor from the bottom of the generator passes out through the pipe A3 to the equalizer, the weak-liquor tank, and absorber, where it is reunited with the gas, and again comes back to the generator through the pipe A2, all as is well known and understood. This invention being confined entirely to the generator, the other portions of the apparatus have not been shown, as the use of the generator in connection with said other portions of the apparatus is well known and understood.

Having thus fully described our said invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

l. In a gas generator, the combination of the casing, the inflow pipe for the liquor, the outflow pipes, and the heater, said heater consisting of a vertical chamber provided with numerous radial hollow arms the inner ends of which arms project a short distance within said chamber, whereby the drippings therefrom will fall directly to the bottom of said chamber without running down its sides, substantially asset forth.

2. In a heater for use in a gas generator, the combination of the cylinder C provided with a collar C secured on each end, a perforated cap C2 secured to each collar by clamping bolts, a packing ring c2 interposed between said collar and said cap, the radial arms c connected with said cylinder, and suitable inlet and outlet pipes, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 7th day of January, 1892.

EUGENE BRETNEY. [n s] JOI-IN T. DICKSON. [L. s]

Witnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, J. A. WALSH. 

